China has introduced an AI chatbot called Wukong AI on its Tiangong space station to support crew operations and mission safety.

Wukong AI, developed from a domestic open-source model, was installed on Tiangong in July and began assisting taikonauts during a recent spacewalk.

Engineers focused Wukong’s knowledge base on aerospace flight data, with the system designed to help with coordination, navigation, and troubleshooting during manned missions.

According to Chinese media, Wukong AI operates in two parts: one module on the station for immediate crew support, and another on Earth for deeper analysis.

This marks the first use of a large language model on China’s space station, with Wukong AI assisting a crew of three during a six-and-a-half-hour mission involving installation of debris protection and station checks.

Similar AI systems, such as Astrobee and CIMON, are already in use on the International Space Station.

Tiangong serves as China’s main platform for microgravity research and future lunar logistics.

🔗 Source: Wired

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Space AI evolves from basic automation to conversational assistance

Wukong AI represents the latest step in a decades-long progression of artificial intelligence in space operations.

The first significant AI deployment was NASA’s Remote Agent system on the Deep Space 1 probe in 1998, which demonstrated autonomous planning and scheduling capabilities 2.

The International Space Station currently operates with Astrobee, a robot that handles routine tasks, and CIMON, which provides conversational psychological support 1.

Wukong AI advances this evolution by combining the practical assistance functions of earlier systems with comprehensive conversational capabilities specifically designed for complex space operations.

The system assisted taikonauts during a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk mission involving debris protection installation and routine inspections, demonstrating how AI has moved beyond basic task automation to active mission support 1.

2️⃣ Dual-module architecture addresses space computing limitations